Boat ladder



H. A. STORCH BOAT LADDER March 3, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 24,1968 INVENTOR.

March 3, 1970 H. A. STORCH 3,498,410

BOAT LADDER Filed Oct. 24, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,498,410 BOAT LADDER Harold A. Storch,Birmingham, Mich., assignor t Mayfair Engineering Company, Birmingham,Mich.. a corporation of Michigan Filed Oct. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 770,268Int. Cl. E06c N36 US. Cl. 182-96 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURESUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The boat ladder most commonly employed forboarding a boat from the water utilizes a pair of hooks formedintegrally with tubular side rails which are rotatable about theirlongitudinal axes to permit the hooks to be brought to a generallyparallel overlapping relation. This type of boat ladder is onlypartially foldable and the hooks are generally very large to accommodatedecks of varying widths. If the boat has a relatively narrow deck theladder will be positioned in an outwardly and upwardly inclined positionduring use, which makes climbing the ladder extremely awkward.Furthermore, such ladders are not adapted for use on boats havingextremely wide decks. While other ladders have been designed for customfitting on a boat, such ladders have been extremely expensive, and theyare not adapted to a wide variety of installations, It is, therefore, anobject of the present invention to provide a boat ladder which may bemanufactured at a reasonable cost, which stows conveniently in arelatively narrow location within the boat, which is stable and safe inuse, which is of strong durable construction, which is readily tailoredto fit individual boats, and which is supported on the boat at theproper inclination irrespective of variations in the design of theparticu lar hull.

The foregoing objects are achieved in a boat ladder wherein the steps ofthe ladder are hinged at their opposite ends to the ladders side railsso that the ladder may be folded to a position in which the side railsare closely spaced apart with the steps being in aligned parallelrelation between the side rails. The ladder is supported and the weigh-tof the ladder user is carried by flexible straps which extend from theside rails to mounting plates or the like permanently aflixed to theboat hull. Pivotal movement of the upper end of the ladder is arrestedby stabilizers which are hinged to the upper ends of the side rails,while the customary standoffs are pivotally mounted to the lower ends ofthe side rails, In one pre ferred form of the invention the stabilizersare joined to the straps by fittings carried at the ends of thestabilizers so that both the stabilizers and the straps are secured tothe mounting plates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side elevationalview of a boat ladder embodying the principles of the present invention,the ladder being shown mounted on a sectionally illustrated boat hull;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structureillustrated in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of FIG.1;

3,498,410 Patented Mar. 3, 1970 FIG. 3 is a sectional view of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 2 taken along the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 1, taken along the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a broken front elevational view of the boat ladder illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of the ladder illustrated in FIG. 5 showing its foldedposition;

FIG. 7 is a view of the structure similarly illustrated in FIG. 1,showing a modified mounting arrangement for the ladder.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of a dual mounting plate; and

FIG. 9 is a view of the structure similarly illustrated in FIG. 1,showing a modified form of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG,1, the boat ladder of the present invention is shown mounted on a boathull 10 having a side wall 12, a deck 14, a gunnel 16, and a rub rail18. A mounting plate or latch 20 is permanently secured to the upperside of the deck 14 by means of four threaded fasteners 22. The mountingplate 20 releasably supports the ladder on the boat during its use, Themounting plate or latch 20 is the only part of the ladder assembly whichis permanently mounted in the hull, the remaining portion of the ladderstructure being readily detachable from the boat hull.

The boat ladder per se includes a pair of spaced parallel side rails 24and a plurality of steps 26 extending perpendicularly between the siderails 24. The steps are identical and the manner of connecting each ofthem to the side rails 24 is also identical. As seen in FIG. 5, theleft-hand end of each step 26 is joined to one side rail 24 by a hinge28, whereas the right-hand end of each step is joined to the other siderail by a hinge 30. The pivot axis of each hinge 28 will be seen to liein a plane including the upper surface of its step 26 while the pivotaxis of the hinge 30 lies in a plane including the lower surface of itsstep. By this means the entire ladder may be folded or collapsed to theposition illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the two side rails 24 are spacedapart a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of the steps26. It will also be seen that the steps 26 lie in end-to-end alignmentin the folded condition of the ladder, The steps 26 are spaced apartvertically of the ladder a distance slightly greater than their width.

Each of the side rails 24 is provided with a pivoting standoff 32adjacent its lower end. Each standoff 32 comprises a rod 34 having aresilient bumper 36 at its free end and a hinge 38 at its opposite end.It will be seen that each side rail has a plurality of holes 40 formedtherein which permit the positioning of the hinge 38 in variouslocations along the length of each side rail 24. The rod 34 is joined tothe hinge by a pair of fasteners 42 and it is possible to vary thelength of the standoff by removing the rod 34 from the hinge, cuttingthe rod 34 to a desired length and then reinstalling it on its hinge 38.Accordingly, the ladder may be sold with a rod 34 of rather long lengthand the individual boat owner may trim the rod 34 to a length which willproduce the desired inclination of the ladder with respect to the side12 of the boat.

The weight of a person utilizing the ladder is borne by a pair offlexible straps 44 which may be made from fabric reinforced rubber,woven nylon, or a variety of other materials. Each strap 44 is connectedto a separate one of the side rails 24 by a generally U-shaped bracket46 and fasteners 48 passing through the bracket 46 and the strap 44 tohold the bracket and the strap to a given side rail 24. It will be seenthat the bracket 46 is located in a position on the side rail 24 whichis spaced downwardly from the upper end thereof. Each strap 44 isconnected at its end opposite from the bracket 46 to a flanged stud orfitting 50. The stud 50 has a pair of annular flanges 52 formed at oneend thereof and is joined to a clevis 54 by a nut 56. It will be seenthat the strap 44 is apertured so that the stud 50 may pass therethroughand a serrated washer 58 is positioned between the flanged end of thestud and the strap to help hold the strap to the stud 50 and clevis 54.The clevis 54 is pivotally joined to one end of a rod 60. The oppositeend of the rod 60 is fastened by screws 62 to a hinge 64. The clevis 54,the rod 60, and the hinge 64 form an assembly which may be termed astablizer 66. When the boat ladder is mounted as illustrated in FIG. 1,the clevis 54 is generally perpendicular to the rod 60. As illustratedin FIG. 1, the stablizer 66 is not utilized in a fully open position. Inother words, an end 68 of the rod opposite from the clevis 54 does notabut or engage the side rail 24 and the weight of the occupant is notcarried at all by the stabilizer 66. The stabilizer 66 serves merely toprevent lateral movement of the upper end of the side rails. 24. It isto be noted that the length of the stabilizer 66 may be tailored to fitan individual boat. This is accomplished by removing the fastener 66,trimming the rod 60 to the desired length and then reinstalling thefastener 66. If the rod 60 is made from wood this is a particularlysimple operation.

Referring now to the mounting plate or latch 20, it will be seen thatthis device, which may be made as a metal casting, includes a baseportion 70 surrounding a generally upstanding box-like formationincluding vertical side walls 72 and a top wall 74. The top wall 74 isprovided with a T-slot 76. As shown in FIG. 2, the slot 76 has a largediameter portion 76A and a small width portion 763. The large diameterportion 76A is of a size suflicient to permit the lowermost flange 52 topass through it and lie beneath the wall 74. When this is accomplished,the stud 50 is moved into the small width portion 76B so that thelowermost flange 52 is prevented from moving upwardly by its engagementwith the wall 74. Movement of the stud 50 out of the small width portion76B can be prevented by an abutment member 78. The abutment member 78,which may be made from plastic, is slidably supported between anopposite pair of the side walls 72. The abutment member 78 is providedwith a recess 82 and when this relieved portion is aligned with thelarge diameter portion 76A of the slot 76, the stud flange 52 may bepassed through the slot 76. After this is accomplished the abutmentmember 78 is shifted to move its recess 82 out of registry with the slot76 and thereby block the stud from movement back into the large diameterportion 76A. By this means the fitting or stud 50 is firmly locked tothe mounting plate 20 and the ladder will not fall off the boat when oneis preparing to use it. Of course, it will be appreciated that theweight of the user would normally hold the stud 50 within the small slotportion 76B when the ladder is in actual use.

As originally sold, the ladder may have straps 44 which are longer thannecessary and the fasteners 48 may be packaged loose. The boat ownerwould then first install the mounting plates 20 and position the ladderon the boat with its studs 50 inserted in the mounting plates. Thestand-off rods 34 are then trimmed, if necessary, to obtain the desiredladder attitude. The straps 44 are then pulled taught down through thebrackets 46 to make sure that the stabilizers-66 are not all the wayopen and that the rod ends 68 are positioned away from the side rails24. When the effective length of the strap has been properly adjusted,the fasteners 48 are then screwed through the straps 44 and brackets 46into the side rails 24. It should be appreciated that the presence of arailing, or the like, above the deck 14 will not interfere with themounting and use of the ladder of the present invention by virtue of thefact that the stabilizer and strap can easily go beneath a railing.

Of course, it will be appreciated that when the ladder is stowed, thestabilizers 66 and the standoifs 32 are folded flatly against theirrespective side rails 24. The straps 44, being flexible, will lieclosely against the side rails 24, and the ladder may then be folded tothe position illustrated in FIG. 6 so that the entire structure can beconventiently stowed ina relatively narrow location within the boat.

FIG. 8 illustrates a somewhat modified form of mounting member in theform of a step-plate 88 having a molded rubber step pad 90 positioned atits center. Fastener receiving openings 94 are located adjacent theopposite ends of the plate 88 with the step pad 90 being locatedgenerally centrally of the plate. Located on the opposite sides of thestep pad 90 between the ends of the pad and fastener receiving openings94 are a pair of T-shaped slots 96 adapted to receive the flanged studs50 of the boat ladder. The plate 88 has the advantage that thepositioning between the two slots 96 is predetermined, therebyeliminating the problem of obtaining the proper spacing between separatemounting plates. It is to be noted that the desired location of theboarding ladder is frequently the same at the place where a boat isboarded from a dock. Accordingly, the plate 88 is useful in boarding theboat from either a dock or the water.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified location of the mounting plates 20 on theside 98 of a boat hull 100. In this arrangement the clevis 54 isparallel to the rod 60. Of course, the rod 60 can be shortened as muchas possible to bring the side rails 24 closer to the side 98 of theboat.

FIG. 9 illustrates a somewhat modified form of the invention in which alatch or mounting member in the form of a buckle 102 is fastened to aninner wall 104 of the boat 10. The buckle 102 has a spring biased tongue106 releasably engageable with a strap 108. The buckle 102 is of theconventional type frequently employed on aircraft seat belts. The ladderused with the buckle 102 incorporates a pair of side rails 110 to whichthe straps 108 are fastened at their lower ends. A pair of stabilizers112 having angled bumpers 114 at their free ends are pivoted to the siderails 110. The bumpers 114, being in the same plane as the straps 108,normally engage the straps 108 and press them against the boat hull,particularly when the user moves his weight forward on the ladder. Whilethe form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9 does not provide anypositive connection between the stabilizers 112 and the straps 108, theconstruction is, nevertheless, effective to resist any forward tiltingmovement of the ladder as the user reaches the upper steps and leansforward in order to swing a leg over into the boat. This is the primaryundesired movement of the upper end of the ladder which it is desired toprevent. Of course, the ladder of FIG. 9' is intended to fold in thesame manner as the previously illustrated ladder (not shown).

What is claimed is:

1. A boat ladder including a pair of parallel side rails, stepssupported between said side rails, a pair of flexible members secured tosaid side rails, means fixed to said boat for detachably securing saidflexible members thereto and thereby supporting the weight of saidladder and the user thereof, a pair of stabilizers each of which ispivotally secured to one of said side rails at one end thereof and isconnected to said flexible members at the other end thereof to arrestforward tilting movement of the upper ends of said side rails during useof said ladder.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, which said flexible memberscomprise straps of greater width than thickness and in which a Wide sideof each strap is engageable with the boat hull when the ladder ismounted thereon.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, in which said means comprises amounting plate means fastened to the boat hull and fittings secured tosaid flexible members and said stabilizers and engageable in saidmounting plate means.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 in which said fittings areconnected to said stabilizers through clevis members pivotally joined tosaid stabilizers.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said steps are pivotallyconnected to said side rails at the opposite ends thereof, and in whichsaid side steps are pivotal to positions parallel said side rails.

6. A boat ladder assembly comprising mounting plate means adapted to befixed to a boat hull, a detachable boarding ladder including a pair ofparallel spaced side rails, steps supported between said side rails, apair of rigid members having one end thereof pivotally attached to saidside rails adjacent the upper ends thereof, a pair of fittings securedto the other ends of said stabilizers and releasably engageable in saidmounting plate means, said stabilizers being operable, when engaged insaid mounting plate means, to restrain horizontal movement of the upperends of said side rails with respect to the boat hull.

7. The structure set forth in claim -6 in which said fittings arepivotally attached to said rigid members.

8. The structure set forth in claim 6 in which said mounting plate meansis provided with keyhole slots and in which said fittings are providedwith heads received in said keyhole slots, said mounting plate meanshaving locking elements manually movable to positions preventingmovement of said heads out of said keyhole slots.

9. The structure set forth in claim 7 in which said side rails areprovided with pivoted standotfs being engageable with the boa-t hull andcooperable with said rigid members to hold said side rails away from theside of said boat hull.

10. The structure set forth in claim 8 in which said steps are pivotallyconnected to said side rails at the opposite ends thereof whereby saidsteps are movable to positions parallel to said side rails.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,859 4/1891 McBeth 182951,232,221 7/ 1917 Chesebro 182-206 2,500,086 3/1950 Mintus l822142,975,858 3/1961 Billingley l'82--196 3,355,030 11/1967 Cathcart 182196REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 182159, 206

